Introduction

Communicating with colleagues is a vital part of your professional work. You will be:

• planning work
• recording outcomes
• recording information about Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
• finding out how others are solving problems
• celebrating success

to mention but a few!

Using the computer for many of these tasks can make your life easier. Changing information and updating is simple. You can provide professional looking documents and plans for others to see. Some software will even let you know when action, such as a review, is required!

In addition, electronic communication via the Internet has made communication with a wider network of colleagues and professional very simple. The Internet is a vast network of computers linked together around the world. This Unit is about using the Internet for communicating with colleagues, accessing information and finding resources.

You can send and receive emails (electronic mail) and can also search the World Wide Web (www or ‘the Web’) for information. These two modes of communication are interrelated, but generally speaking if you want to communicate with someone electronically, you will use email; if you want to find existing information you will use the Web.

This Unit is in two main parts. The first looks at communicating with colleagues in and around school. The second looks at communicating more widely.

This ICTS website is maintained by Inclusive Technology.